Probably the best hike I've done in my life so far. Also one of the most difficult…read more You can technically do it without a guide but I highly recommend getting one. The trail is pretty well marked so I don't think you'd get lost but getting a guide also gives you access to the rope and harness to get up the rock scramble (or 'Carrasqueira' as the locals call it). Allegedly you can go on your own and just pay one of the guys to rent the harness but I think a guide is worth it. Place they'll take some epic photos for you! I hiked Pedra da Gavea in late February so it was in the peak of summer in Rio. Temperatures hovered around 90F and it was HUMID. The heat and humidity had me hitting my inhaler on the way up. It takes about 3 hours to go up and 2-2.5 hours to go down. The views at the top are breathtaking so you'll probably want to hang out at the top for an hour or so. Plan for it to be an all-day affair. Bring a lot of water. Bring a light lunch. Put on some sunscreen.

An epic adventure hike that is not for the faint of heart. It's a pretty long trip to the top,…read morewhich includes some dangerous sections. The risk can be mitigated by an experienced guide with some ropes/harnesses for safety (mostly for the brief rock climb) . Local hikers tend to throw caution to the wind, but you don't want to go tumbling down a cliff do you? Getting to the top is about a 3 hour endeavor almost entirely uphill, you hike out the same way though downhill is obviously faster (maybe 2 hrs). You'll definitely want a good amount of water, so either a camelback or 3-4 12 oz waters per person. The views are totally breathtaking, I don't think I've ever been up so high without being in an airplane. If you're feeling fit and want a real hiking challenge in Rio, this is the one for you!

I booked a Jeep tour leaving from Rio to this park in the morning. A lot of locals come here to…read morepicnic, hike, and swim in the lagoons with waterfalls. The tour was really fun with great sights and you really feel like you're in the rainforest even though you're pretty close to Rio. Some highlights: -Mirante das Canoas - Great view at the top of the park above São Conrado beach -Cascatinha Taunay - large waterfall where you can swim in the lagoon below -Mayrink Chapel - a small, pink chapel that is in the middle of the rainforest I would definitely recommend the tour, it was really fun to ride in the Jeep and only requires half a day.

We booked a tour for this rainforest it was a private tour by error but worked out well for us…read more Our guide gave us a nice tour, lots of walking & if u are lucky u get to see some animals, we saw Coati's , a whole family of them very cute. The waterfall was not what I initially thought from looking at pics the waterfall looked like it's something u could enjoy by getting in the water it was not the only area where u could get in the water was like a small looking pond annoying simply because would have been nice to cool off during all the walking. We got to see plenty of nature, trees, caves not terrible overall.

In a city lined with beautiful beaches that are perennially crowded with sun-blathers, surfers and…read moreswimmers, the São Conrado beach comes out as an exception. It is pretty calm and secluded except for this tiny part that serves as the landing strip for dozens of hang gliders and para gliders. With the gliding club of Rio operating nearby, this is the beach to come to if you want to see human beings fly like birds. If you are interested in flying, then the São Conrado beach would be your rendezvous point.

no doubt this is a beautiful beach. much less populous that the more mainstream places like…read morecopacabana and ipanema. but that solece comes with a price. this beach is far....real far.... you need a car for sure to get here, there is no public transportation to take you to this beach. and if you come here in a car please make sure to come in real early because there is not much parking as this location is in a weird mountain highway thing and theres only so much parking. if you cant find parking you cant stay at the beach. another thing is that you need to pay some person who works on the street making sure your car does not get stolen, so bring some cash. generally at brazilian beaches the beach vendors who have tents do rent chairs and umbrellas so again do make sure to bring some cash, not much but some. if you make it to this beach you will have a great time, the water is clean and super calm, the sand is nice and the beach itself does not get packed.

This is a secluded beach passing the barra and recreio beaches. Also even after the prainha…read more People come here to get away offron the regular beach boardwalks and massive amounts of crowds as in Rio if a beach is close for he train or mass transportation of any kind the area will be very busy and sometimes overpopulated. It reminded me a lot of Hawaii this beach. There are mountains and a lot of green all around. You still can see some vendors walking around and you also have the stationary vendors who can rent you chairs and sell you soda. At a price not that bad. We came in a holiday weekend and it was not too bad to find parking. Just be weary of the parking area as the people that care for the parked cars will ask for money. If they are wearing a vest with the city logo then it is fine to pay then as they have permits to care for the parking. This beach was great, we liked it very much and if you have the means to come here do so. Remember no mass transportation come here so get a car and come by. Stay by barraca do netuno, the owner is great and he will take good care of you.